NorthChamber is proud to be playing an active role in shaping the future of Whangārei’s city centre through its involvement in the Mayor’s Taskforce, a collaborative initiative focused on revitalising and rejuvenating the inner city.
Representing NorthChamber on the taskforce, Interim CEO Tim Robinson has been working alongside key community and business stakeholders to identify opportunities and solutions that will strengthen the heart of our city. Tim and Jules Morrison, owner of The Judge House of Ale, have been appointed as the business and hospitality leads, ensuring the voices of local businesses are represented throughout the process.
While the work is still ongoing, there have already been some encouraging early wins. One of these is the establishment of a “crisis café”, designed to provide support and direction for people facing accommodation challenges and other life difficulties. This initiative reflects the taskforce’s commitment to creating a safer, more connected, and more inclusive city centre.
Looking ahead, the taskforce aims to develop a long-term, city-wide strategy that addresses key challenges including commercial vacancies, the pressures facing small businesses, and the need to create a vibrant, attractive destination for residents, visitors, and investors. An important part of this vision is building on Whangārei’s unique strengths, including the internationally recognised Hundertwasser Art Centre and the region’s growing creative sector.
The work also aligns closely with Creative Northland’s application for Whangārei to be recognised as New Zealand’s UNESCO Creative City for Craft & Folk Art. Achieving this status would connect Whangārei to a global network of creative cities and provide access to an international audience of more than 70 million people, creating exciting opportunities for tourism, investment, and cultural development.
NorthChamber is excited to continue supporting WDC and fellow taskforce members as this important work gathers momentum. Our role is not only to advocate for the business community, but also to ensure strong communication and engagement between the taskforce, CBD businesses, and the wider Northland business community as we work together to help create a thriving and resilient city centre for the future.
